I have a few Seikos, but still had to have an skx007 because of the easy to read dial. I also like the classic style. In my opinion, nothing beats it.
The black dial with the white markers make this watch very easy to read. The white date window is easier to read than a black one. The lume is good too. Almost as good as the Seiko Monster II, which honestly has no equal.
This is an "international model" that came with a funny looking Japanese warranty slip. It had a sticker on the back that said cased in China. The 7S26 movement of the skx007K is made in Malaysia and I have read that the cases are made in China. Prices are fluctuating lately and I see them as low as $180.
Mine is running fine at about +11 seconds per day in the first week. It looks clean. The only minor issue is that the bezel is off by a tiny amount. Not enough to justify a return at this low price.
I like the looks of the rubber strap but it isn't comfortable on my wrist. After swapping the top with the bottom it fits me much better and sits where it should on the center of my wrist.
Don't hesitate to buy one of these classics. They will never go out of style. They will also never need a battery.
Update: after a few weeks accuracy is about +2 sec per day on average. Power reserve is rated at 40 hours but I got 45 when I tested it.
*** If you are still reading, then here is my two cents on finding the perfect work watch:
Five years ago, I started my search for the perfect everyday work watch. I was tired of wearing an ordinary digital watch and I wanted an easy to read, stylish analog. I started with the Seiko SNE107 solar, ended with the SKX007 mechanical, and bought the others in between -- plus a few more not mentioned here. If I knew then what I know now, my collection would likely be smaller.
I want to tell you things that you can't get from a photo -- insights that you get after spending weeks with a watch on your wrist. I hope that by sharing my opinion and comparison of these fine watches, I can help you with your search for the perfect diver / work watch / "beater".
I have come to appreciate the style and value of Seiko so I continued to buy them. I can't comment on other brands because there aren't any other brands in my collection.
These are my favorite five:
SKX007 Classic Black 7S26 movement with 40 hour power reserve. "The Classic" at top top of my list.
Black face with white hour markers. Markers have a white outline. Thin patch of lume inside the white outline. Second hand is white, but the border of the hands is chrome. Easy to read the time in light and dark conditions. Easy to read date window with white background. Did I say easy to read both time AND date?
Favorite things about this watch: Pure classic design and easy to read.
SKX171 Steel & Black 7S26 movement with 40 hour power reserve.
Black face with chrome hour markers. Markers have a chrome outline. They shine in direct light. They tend to look dull gray in photos. Thin patch of lume inside the chrome outline. Second hand is chrome, as are the borders of the hands. Black date window isn't easiest to read, but contributes to classic design of black & steel. Slightly aggressive steel bezel lends itself to a stainless bracelet.
Favorite thing about this watch: Rugged classic design plus chrome.
SKX011 Classic Orange 7S26 movement with 40 hour power reserve.
Rich Orange face with white hour markers. Markers have a black outline. Thin patch of lume inside the black outline. Second hand is black and the hands are gold. Easy to read the time in bright conditions, less so in dark conditions. Easy to read date window with white background. You pay a premium for the orange and gold and I'm not sure why. But it certainly is nice to look at. I have read that the gold bezel begins to fade after many years of wear.
Favorite thing about this watch: Classic design plus gold.
SRP307 Monster II 4R36 movement with 42 hour power reserve. If you have a 7" or larger wrist, this one is worth every penny and belongs at the top of YOUR list. It is a bit large and flashy for me to wear regularly. Manually windable, hackable, and has a nice domed crystal. The hour markers have a chrome border and the hands are white. The hour markers are also available with a red border. Very easy to read and the lume is more white, unlike the greenish tint of the 1st generation. Honestly, the Monster's stainless bracelet has no equal. Plus it has a divers extension. The date window is black to maintain the black & stainless style. Also consider the SRP581 black/blue. Believe it or not, in 2017 there is now a Monster III.
Favorite things about this watch: Bold, unique design. Manually windable.
SNE107P2 Solar Diver -- Solar quartz movement with healthy 10 month power reserve. Inexpensive beater watch.
Rechargeable battery will last up to 20 years if charged regularly. Just place in a window sill a few times per year if necessary. Black (also radiant in direct light), face with plain white hour markers. There are thick mounds of lume applied to the markers which may or may not be centered. This could be a deal breaker for some. This lume is certainly bright in the dark, and the hour markers are white while indoors, but in the daylight, the lume takes on a dull yellow tint that some may not like. This effect is not noticeable in the other divers. By my observations, this is because the lume is thinner and light can pass through, or because black or chrome borders provide contrast that hides the effect. Second hand is white, as are the borders of the hands. All this white makes it easy to read, but date window has black background -- not as easy to read as a white background. "Starfish" stainless bezel is wider, more flashy, and produces more glare than the classic design of the '007 or '171. Seiko 20mm rubber strap isn't as soft as the 22mm strap that comes with the mechanicals. This model has drilled lugs for easy strap changes. This watches brother, the SNE109, comes with an orange face -- a light shade of orange that reminds me of an orange push-up.
Favorite thing about this watch: Easy to read.
Any watch that I said has a black face actually has a dark gray face. At first glance they may appear black. But when I saw a friend's Rolex and compared it to my Seiko, I realized what black really looks like.
All of these dive watches have excellent lume visible for hours. The lume in the Monster II and the SNE107 seems to be a tiny bit better. But they are all visible long into the night. The Monster II and the SNE107 are also especially easy to read at a glance because of the white markers AND white hands.
All of these are mechanical except for the SNE107 which is solar powered. Seiko solar is accurate and reliable, but the mechanicals have character despite their short power reserve and relative inaccuracy. The mechanicals need to be set at least monthly and, of course, when they've stopped after 40 hours off the wrist. The solar only needs to be set a couple of times per year, and the date corrected on short months.
The photos on Amazon are rarely as good as they could be. Some are blurry stock photos that could never help to sell a product. Always look at several photos from the Internet before making your choice. Then read the watch enthusiast sites..
If you are worried that you may be buying a second-rate or gray-market Seiko, just make sure you buy one that is Prime with the 30-day free return option.
Often, Seikos bought or sourced from Japan will have a weird "only valid in Japan" warranty slip.
-----
Anti-squeak Tip: Some of my rubber strap watches developed an annoying squeak. One was caused by a squeaky spring bar, and the other by the bar squeaking against the strap hole. Sil-Glyde silicone lube is the perfect solution to this. It is harmless to rubber and metal. Take out your spring bars and work some into the ends. Leave some on the bar so it will slide in easy and stay lubed in the strap hole. Problem solved in 10 minutes.
-----
Strap tip: Try it upside down. My rubber and leather straps usually felt uncomfortable and inched their way around my wrist. Annoying. So I tried it upside down and these problems disappeared. My watches stay put better and the keeper isn't bunched up at the bottom of my wrist. Easy to try -- just wear it upside down for a little while and you'll know if you need to make the change.
-----
Mechanical watch accuracy tip: wind it up and wear it until bedtime.
People have complained that their mechanical watches are unreliable because they are +2 seconds one day and -5 other days. I have also read on many watch forums that these people need to get used to their mechanical watch. How does one get used to a machine?
I took some time to analyze a few of my 7s26 Seiko watches and I believe I have figured this out. All I had to do was to make sure the watch was fully wound, check my watch against a reliable clock once a day, and remember how much of the day I had my watch on. I made a game of not having to reset my watch for weeks.
I believe that the Seiko developers tuned their reliable (but not perfect) 7s26 movement for the average person: one who wears it all day and takes it off in the evening. Many have noted that their 7s26 runs fast out of the box. Most of mine do too. I made a graph of this for a couple of watches. They gain in the beginning, slow as they use the power reserve, and slow even more five hours after the rated 40 hours power reserve runs out.
By the way, this bonus five hours is not really a benefit. If you fail to "swing wind" your dead watch for at least 30 seconds, it may even stop running while in this weakened state, only to start up again 10 minutes later and 10 minutes slow.
Basically, I have noted the following: A fully wound watch will gain a little, and when about 1/5 of the power reserve is used, it begins to loose a little. Keep it in and out of this "sweet spot" and your watch will stay accurate for weeks.
I believe that the majority of people whose Seiko "runs fast out of the box" will find this is true. The rest, who either don't wear it every day, or whos watch runs at a different rate, don't care. But I had fun making a game of it just this once. And I never fiddle with positional variation. I always place it crown-up -- like the average person.
Good luck,
-Chris
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Add to your order
-
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) -
24/7 support when you need it. -
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
2 Year Watch Protection Plan ($600 - $699.99) $54.99
3 Year Watch Protection Plan ($600 - $699.99) $69.99
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Asurion Complete Protect: One plan covers all eligible past and future purchases (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month
Select a plan
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Select a plan
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
0:31
Click to play video
Customer Review: Buy one today. You'll be happy you did.
Hugh
Videos for this product
0:05
Click to play video
Seiko Watch Video
Merchant Video
Videos for this product
0:12
Click to play video
Seiko Video Upload
Merchant Video
Reviews with images
Great entry-level dive watch with tremendous value
Pros: Classic look, inexpensive, automatic, bright lume markersCons: Non-hacking, included strap is cheapThe Seiko SKX is a great entry-level dive watch for everyday wear. It doesn't try to be anything more than a $200 diver; it knows exactly what it is. This watch has the 7S26 movement, which powers many other Seiko watches as well. It is a reliable, accurate, and a solid movement, but it's not complex or anything to write home about. This watch resembles many classic divers and is very simple and understated in its design. It has clear, bright markers, thick hands, and a very smooth 120-click bezel. The screw-down crown is located at the 4:00 position like many Seikos, keeping it out of the way when worn. It has very classic dimensions: 42mm dial, 22mm lug width, and the lug-to-lug length is 46mm. I have a small wrist, and normally 42mm watches would be too big for me, but this fits perfectly, mostly because of the shorter lug-to-lug measurement compared to watches of similar dimensions. If, however, the SKX007 is still too large for you, go with the smaller, 38mm version, the SKX013.The included rubber strap is functional, but not great. It's a bit uncomfortable and I wish it had an additional keeper. However, I do like it over the metal bracelet because it makes the watch more suitable for its intended purpose. Also, the metal bracelets on cheaper Seikos aren't very good. For daily wear, though, I replaced the strap with a NATO band and I think it makes the watch look a lot better and gives it a bit of character. You can get a little bit creative with the bands you use and most should work because it's such a simple looking watch. With a 22mm lug width, there are limitless choices for bands, so go nuts!I'm glad I picked the SKX for my first dive watch. It's definitely understated and has a very classic design, and it doesn't break the bank. At 42mm, it is the perfect size for most wrists, and because it has a minimal dial, you can get creative with the straps you use. It's not too heavy or bulky so it's very suitable for everyday wear. Consider the SKX if you're in the market for a $200 dive watch.
Top reviews from other countries
Bruno
Très belle montre - Excellent rapport qualité/prix.
Reviewed in France on May 28, 2017